Thunder Road Milk Bowl Gets Facelift
Officials from Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, VT announced today a change in the format of one of America’s best-known short track events, the People’s United Bank Milk Bowl.
For most if its 47-year history, the Milk Bowl has been comprised of qualifying and three 50-lap segments, with a unique scoring system that crowns the Champion after the completion of the final segment. In 2010, fans will see a change in the number of laps to the Milk Bowl format. As usual, the first 50-lap segment will be determined from a pole and outside-pole effort in time trials. The second and third segments have traditionally seen a full inversion of the previous segment, with the last place driver from the previous segment starting on the pole and the winner last. Beginning with the Peoples United Bank 2010 Milk Bowl, the event will look the same until the second segment when the laps will increase from 50 to 75. Again 75 laps will be run for the third and final segment, after the second segment inversion, making the new format a 200-lap Milk Bowl versus the 150-lap event of the past.
“Over the past few years, the racing by the weekly Late Models at Thunder Road and on the ACT has been remarkably respectful. It has left little time for drivers stuck out back to have a fair opportunity to challenge for many wins. In the interest of fair competition, and in an attempt to provide the fans with the most exciting racing we can, we are going to expand the laps. We hope it will increase the excitement of the overall Milk Bowl,” said Tom Curley, Promoter of Thunder Road in Barre, VT.
Former three-time King of the Road and Milk Bowl winner Cris Michaud said, “I know how difficult it is to get to the front in 50 laps on Thursday nights with only 22 or 24 cars. It is much harder with 30 high quality teams that usually show up for the Milk Bowl starting grid. I really like this change. It will probably bring the points in three segments back to the teens to win, rather than the recent 20+ points.” (The Milk Bowl scoring system is based on a single point for a win in a segment, 2 points for second, 3 for third etc. In recent years it has resulted in very high total scores to win the event after combining the three segments.)
The Peoples United Bank Milk Bowl will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3, 2010. Post time is 1:30 each day and admission is only $25 for both days. Saturday is only $5.00 and $20 for just Sunday’s Milk Bowl. Kids 12 and under are free.
Sources: ACT PR